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A Colonel’s Guide to Mental Toughness
In this episode, I sit down with Colonel Steve Luxion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a 34-year veteran with more than 2,500 flight hours, 700 combat hours, and a career that spans the F 111 Aardvark, the Navy’s F 14 Tomcat, the EA 6B Prowler, and the early MQ 1B Predator program. Steve has led at every level — from squadrons to NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence and brings a rare combination of combat experience, strategic leadership, and humility. We talk about what mental toughness really looks like in life-or-death environments, how individuals can better manage fear and focus, and why emotional control is the foundation of great leadership. Steve breaks down the inner arena of decision making under pressure, the habits that keep pilots steady, and the lessons anyone — athletes, leaders, parents, and performers — can use to stay composed when it matters most.
Key Topics:
Military leadership and combat experience
Development of confidence and emotional intelligence
The role of challenge and grit in high-pressure situations
Sound Bites:
"Confidence comes from training and preparation"
"Articulate the mission and its importance"
"Grit and making a difference are key to success"
About the Guest:
Colonel (USAF-Retired) Stephen P. Luxion is the Principal in Luxion Consulting LLC, providing advisory services across a broad span of expertise gained across multiple careers. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Senior Advisor to defense and public service industries, and officiates all levels of lacrosse. Lux served as Executive Director of ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence) led by Mississippi State University. Steve was responsible for leading the alliance of 35 of the world’s leading research universities and its industry partners. ASSURE is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), providing the FAA a wide-ranging UAS research portfolio and conducts specific research to help inform and address the key challenges to safely and efficiently integrating UAS into the National Airspace System. ASSURE also leverages its expertise, experience, and knowledge to serve others outside the FAA including current research for NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).
Lux is a 34-year US Air Force veteran with over 2,500 hours flying time in the F-111 Aardvark, MQ-1B Predator UAV; and the F-14A Tomcat and EA-6B Prowler while on exchange with the US Navy; including 700 hours combat time in operations over Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. For his combat efforts, Colonel Luxion was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, 4 Air Medals, and 7 Aerial Achievement Medals. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984. He was a four-year letterman in lacrosse and was named as an All-Conference midfielder his senior year. Colonel Luxion commanded at the squadron, group and center levels and helped lead the establishment of NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence.
Colonel Luxion is a distinguished graduate of both the USAF Fighter Weapons School and Air Command and Staff College. He is also a graduate of four Master-Degree programs from Embry-Riddle (MBA-Finance & Master Aeronautical Science), the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (Master of Air & Space Power), and the National War College (Master of Science in National Security Policy).
About the Host:
James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL.. James is trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.
Resources:
Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching
View all episodes
By James BlascoIn this episode, I sit down with Colonel Steve Luxion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a 34-year veteran with more than 2,500 flight hours, 700 combat hours, and a career that spans the F 111 Aardvark, the Navy’s F 14 Tomcat, the EA 6B Prowler, and the early MQ 1B Predator program. Steve has led at every level — from squadrons to NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence and brings a rare combination of combat experience, strategic leadership, and humility. We talk about what mental toughness really looks like in life-or-death environments, how individuals can better manage fear and focus, and why emotional control is the foundation of great leadership. Steve breaks down the inner arena of decision making under pressure, the habits that keep pilots steady, and the lessons anyone — athletes, leaders, parents, and performers — can use to stay composed when it matters most.
Key Topics:
Military leadership and combat experience
Development of confidence and emotional intelligence
The role of challenge and grit in high-pressure situations
Sound Bites:
"Confidence comes from training and preparation"
"Articulate the mission and its importance"
"Grit and making a difference are key to success"
About the Guest:
Colonel (USAF-Retired) Stephen P. Luxion is the Principal in Luxion Consulting LLC, providing advisory services across a broad span of expertise gained across multiple careers. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Senior Advisor to defense and public service industries, and officiates all levels of lacrosse. Lux served as Executive Director of ASSURE (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence) led by Mississippi State University. Steve was responsible for leading the alliance of 35 of the world’s leading research universities and its industry partners. ASSURE is the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), providing the FAA a wide-ranging UAS research portfolio and conducts specific research to help inform and address the key challenges to safely and efficiently integrating UAS into the National Airspace System. ASSURE also leverages its expertise, experience, and knowledge to serve others outside the FAA including current research for NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).
Lux is a 34-year US Air Force veteran with over 2,500 hours flying time in the F-111 Aardvark, MQ-1B Predator UAV; and the F-14A Tomcat and EA-6B Prowler while on exchange with the US Navy; including 700 hours combat time in operations over Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. For his combat efforts, Colonel Luxion was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, 4 Air Medals, and 7 Aerial Achievement Medals. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1984. He was a four-year letterman in lacrosse and was named as an All-Conference midfielder his senior year. Colonel Luxion commanded at the squadron, group and center levels and helped lead the establishment of NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence.
Colonel Luxion is a distinguished graduate of both the USAF Fighter Weapons School and Air Command and Staff College. He is also a graduate of four Master-Degree programs from Embry-Riddle (MBA-Finance & Master Aeronautical Science), the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (Master of Air & Space Power), and the National War College (Master of Science in National Security Policy).
About the Host:
James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL.. James is trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.
Resources:
Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching